I was long overdue for another Miami Spice outing, so I gathered a group and headed to the Setai. The Restaurant was top on my list but for some reason they didn’t have reservations at the time we wanted. We were a large party of seven so I figured we’d try The Grill. Couldn’t be bad, right? In fact, it got good Miami Spice reviews.
D and I arrived a little early and had a drink at the bar while we waited. The mango martini was delicious — and so was the chili-passion martini, served with a bright red chili on the rim, my friend ordered later.
Our table, large, sturdy and somewhat majestic, was toward the back of the restaurant next to the impressive wine cellar. It was nice that we were secluded in what felt like our own dining room. When we sat down, we were asked if we would be doing Miami Spice and were handed the menus. No attitude at all. The service was excellent throughout. Once everyone arrived, our server explained the Miami Spice promotion and told us about their Miami Spice wine tasting menu — three pours; one with each course — for $20. We were happy with our martinis so we skipped that option.
I ordered the parfait of chicken liver and foie gras, the poached chicken and the ricotta with strawberries. The parfait was smooth and smoky-flavored. It was served atop brioche with roasted walnuts, jasmine sultanas and endive. The walnuts and jasmine cut nicely into the parfait’s intense flavor. I also tasted D’s shaved hearts of palm appetizer with serrano ham, parmigiano-reggiano and a black truffle vinaigrette. Loved it.
I usually find chicken boring and rarely order it at a restaurant unless it’s in a salad, but the Gewurztraminer emulsion did it for me. It was flavorful and the chicken juicy. Others at the table ordered the salmon confit, which I didn’t taste, but I heard no complaints.
The dessert menu was different than the one advertised but the options were good. My ricotta and strawberries with toasted almonds was tangy and light. I liked the panacotta with banana and mango salad that D ordered better, though. I didn’t taste the lemon custard, but again, I heard no complaints.
All seven of us left very pleased with our Miami Spice meals at The Grill. The food was good, the service excellent and the surroundings beautiful.
tags: Miami Spice, The Grill, The Setai, martinis
Whenever somebody asks me what restaurant I’d recommend to try for Miami Spice (or a client is in town) I say the Setai. If only was affordable to go more often.
I’m finally getting around to try Evolution next week. Will certainly post how it went.
It’s pretty expensive, but if nothing else they can stop by for one of those yummy martinis in their outdoor area, which is gorgeous. Looking forward to hearing about Evolution.
Our Miami Spice dinner at The Restaurant at the Setai was absolutely lovely. There were six of us. For starters, the place itself is drop-dead gorgeous. The service was perfect, very well-informed yet courteously friendly – no sense of snootiness at all. We were given a beautiful table, no hiding us in a corner because we were *Miami Spicers*. And most strikingly, the food presentation was spectacular.
Now, let’s talk about the food. And the wines – all of us except one ordered the wine flight.
After we ordered we were presented with a surprise cold honeydew soup with a spicy chili swirl in a chilled shot glass. Pretty and delicious! We tried all the appetizers: one of us had the Five Spice Duck Consommé – I think this was the best of the appetizers. Three others had the Seared Maine Scallop (yes, that would be *one* scallop, but…whatever!) and two of us had Salad of Asian Pear with Young Organic Vegetables and Shoots – it had carrots, beets, green apple foam, and other yummy stuff. The appetizer was paired with a Sauvignon Blanc, which in the past I’ve never liked – but this one was quite good.
For the entrees we also tried all of the selections: Two of us had the Tandoori Chicken with a variety of sauces – since they both ordered the same thing it was served on a beautiful large silver tray. One of us bravely tried the Crisp Roasted Pork Belly in a very interesting flavorful broth. And three of us had the Gaeng Kheow Wan Gai, which is a green curry dish which the menu lists as coming with fried bean curd but we were given the option of having it with chicken, which we all chose to do. For the entrée we were given the choice between a Malbec and a Chardonnay, all of us but one had the Malbec…both were very good.
For dessert, again we tried all three options: three had the Kaffir Lime Sorbet – which was really good with a variety of flavors, two had the Panna Cotta, which as panna cotta is apt to be was mildly flavored, but it was served with lemon grass and a swirl of mango coulis – this was probably the weakest dish of the evening. I had the White Zen Chai which consisted of a white chocolate foam, a thin layer of airy cake and a chai flavored gelatin – delicious! And the dessert was accompanied by a delicious Muscat Asti.
Again – a great Miami Spice experience where we were left with the desire to return and pay full price for a meal – everyone wins! Also, if you go, take the time to walk around the outside and visit the pool area – absolutely breathtaking!